Around the Year in 52 Books discussion

2025 Summer Reading Challenge
This challenge will run from June 1, 2025 - August 31, 2025.

TOTAL POINTS: 5100/5000

CHIPS AND DIP - 100 points
☑ 1a. A book in a series
The Queen's Rising by Rebecca Ross | ✭✭✭✩✩ on 7/23/25
Book #1 in The Queen's Rising duology.

☑ 1b. A book with water on the cover
White Fang by Jack London | ✭✭✩✩✩ on 8/23/25

☐1c. A book released in 2024 or 2025
☑ 1d. A book by a new to you author
The Young Oxford Book of Nasty Endings by Dennis Pepper | ✭✭✭✩✩ on 8/3/25

☐1e. A humorous book

DRINKS STATION - 200 points
Author's initials are in:
☑ 2a. FRESH-SQUEEZED LEMONADE
A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid | ✭✭✩✩✩ on 7/13/25

☑ 2b. UNSWEETENED ICED TEA
The Hacienda by Isabel Cañas | ✭✭✭✩✩ on 8/3/25

☑ 2c. ROOT BEER SODA
The Golden Apples of the Sun by Ray Bradbury | ✭✭✭✩✩ on 7/13/25

☐2d. FRUIT PUNCH
☑ 2e. SPARKLING WATER
The Queen's Resistance by Rebecca Ross | ✭✭✭✭✩ on 7/27/25


BURGER AND HOT DOG TOPPINGS - 300 points
☑ 3a. Ketchup: A book with red on the cover
For the Wolf by Hannah Whitten | ✭✭✭✭✩ on 7/20/25

☑ 3b. Relish: A book by a favorite author
Black Coffee by Agatha Christie | ✭✩✩✩✩ on 8/7/25

☐3c. Mustard: A book with a military character (serving, retired, or adjacent)
☑ 3d. Pickles: A book title that includes a word starting with the letter P
The Cruel Prince by Holly Black | ✭✭✭✭✭ on 8/30/25

☑ 3e. Cheese: A sentimental book
The Ballerinas by Rachel Kapelke-Dale | ✭✭✭✩✩ on 7/29/25
This book centers on a woman's regrets over the past and attempts to fix her friendships in the present.


DESSERTS - 400 points
☐4a. A book with a child main character
☐4b. A book with a wedding
☑ 4c. A book that has been nominated for an award
House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin A. Craig | ✭✭✩✩✩ on 7/11/25
Nominated for Goodreads Choice Award for Debut Novel (2019), Ladies of Horror Fiction Award for Best Young Adult (2019)

☑ 4d. A book with a cafe, bakery, or restaurant as an important setting
Kingdom of the Wicked by Kerri Maniscalco | ✭✭✩✩✩ on 8/29/25
MC works in her family's restaurant so a significant portion of the book is set in it.

☐4e. A book originally written in a language other than English

THE SIDES - 500 points
☑ 5a. Potato salad - A book with more than one point of view
For the Throne by Hannah Whitten | ✭✭✩✩✩ on 8/5/25
Book alternates between 3 POVs.

☑ 5b. Mac n' cheese - A book by an author with 10 or more books
Author's bio indicates she's the author of more than 25 books.
Behind Her Eyes by Sarah Pinborough | ✭✭✭✩✩ on 7/28/25

☐5c. Corn bread - A book originally published before 1900
☑ 5d. Deviled eggs - A book with challenging subject matter
True Love Way by Mary Elizabeth | ✭✭✭✩✩ on 6/6/25
Deals with depression and mental illness.

☑ 5e. Watermelon - A book over 500 pages
The Last Mermaid by Shana Abe | ✭✭✩✩✩ on 8/26/25



☐☑ ✓★✔ | ✭✭✭✩✩